Why Mums Shouldn’t Feel Guilty For Taking Care Of Themselves

Mums are always taking care of other people – usually their own children, but it could be their partners, parents, friends, friends’ children, and so on – which means they’re not usually taking care of themselves enough. That can become an issue because being a mum means you need to work on having some energy, good health, practices and happiness. If you’re not taking care of yourself, those things will be in short supply. 

“This post is a partnered post and may contain affiliate links. These thoughts and opinions are in line with my own personal beliefs.”

The problem is that no matter how many times a mum is told that she needs to take some time for herself and focus on her own needs, she’ll often feel guilty about it, and not do it in the end. That’s something that really needs to change, and here are the reasons why mums shouldn’t feel guilty for taking care of themselves. 

Photo by RDNE Stock project

You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup

Have you heard that expression before? What you can’t pour from an empty cup means is that if you’re not taking care of yourself, you won’t be in the best place to take care of others.

As a mother, you have many different roles in the family, from caregiver to cook to cleaner, and so on. And that’s not even thinking about your role outside of the home as well. Even if you share these tasks with a partner, they’ll still become too much in the end without taking a break once in a while. When you don’t pay attention to your self-care and health, you’ll burn out and not be able to take care of anyone. 

Setting A Positive Example 

Another great reason not to feel guilty about doing something for yourself and taking care of your own needs is that you’re actually setting a positive example for your kids. When your children see you taking time for yourself, they’ll start to understand the value of self-care and ‘me time’, and as they get older, they’ll get into the habit more easily – without any guilt – meaning they’ll be happier and healthier. 

Plus, if you take care of your health, perhaps by visiting the doctor regularly or finally seeing a specialist to get the aligners you know you need, your children will get into the same habit and mindset, ensuring that they continue to take care of themselves even when they’re no longer living at home with you to make them. 

Being Yourself

Becoming a mum is a big shift in anyone’s life, and some women feel as though they completely lost their identity – they’re ‘just’ a mum now and no longer the woman they were before. 
Of course, having a baby shouldn’t mean you have to give up on who you are, so keeping up with your hobbies and interests is extremely important. It’s true that you might not be able to do things in quite the same way – you’ll need to arrange for childcare and be a little less spontaneous, for example, but you should still be able to continue with things, and that will help you be yourself much more.